British Series RED DWARF Returns for 11th Season Next Month

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When I was growing up—and indeed when many, many people of my generation were as well—PBS stations meant two things: mornings full of enriching children’s programming, and evenings full of British stuff my head couldn’t quite fathom. This is where I first saw Tom Baker’s Doctor Who, where I first tried to comprehend Are You Being Served? and Keeping Up Appearances, and where I first laid eyes on a strange science fiction comedy about weird people stranded in space. That show was Red Dwarf. Now, nearly 30 years after the series first began, an 11th season is on its way.

The perennial favorite saw the space adventures of a lost-in-space crew of weirdos stranded three million years in the future aboard the titular ship. The group is “led” by underachiever Lister (Craig Charles), who is joined by the holographic version of his dead former-bunkmate (Chris Barrie), a creature known only as Cat (Danny John-Jules), and a mechanoid—or, weird looking android guy—named Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) as they seek out exciting new life and civilizations.

Just kidding. They just get on each others nerves and have strange Douglas Adams-esque sci-fi adventures. From the trailer above, it looks like the new series is going way more cinematic than previously, with an awesome reference to Ridley Scott’s Alien.

Series XI will begin airing on the UK network Dave. (Yes, in the UK there is a network called Dave.) The first six series of Red Dwarf ran from 1988 to 1993, with VII and VIII arriving in 1997 and 1999. Then there was a big ol’ stretch of nothing for a decade before a TV movie in 2009. Finally, in 2012, a tenth series was commissioned, filmed in front of a live studio audience at Pinewood Studios. This was apparently a big enough hit for more to be made, with six new episodes—all written and directed by series co-creator Doug Naylor—airing on Dave starting this coming September 22.

Now, there’s no word on when or if the series will air in North America, but if it’s anything like Series X, we’ll be getting a Blu-ray and DVD release shortly after the finale. And the best news? There’s already a Series XII in the works for next year! More information can be found on the show’s official Facebook page. Get ready to soar again, you smegheads!

Let us know your thoughts on the return to Dwarf in the comments below!